Believed to have originated in China well over 2,000 years ago, sauerkraut is a fermented cabbage. It doesn’t get the praise it deserves, even though it’s a popular side dish in many countries around the world. Germans get it, they know what’s up with this side dish! However, most people don’t know sauerkraut offers a variety of health benefits for those who love to eat it regularly.

The Top Health Benefits of Sauerkraut

If you’re eager to get sweet from sour by eating sauerkraut, here are five health benefits you may reap once you make sauerkraut part of your diet.

Vitamins and Nutrients

When you eat sauerkraut, you will enjoy not only its tangy taste but also a great combination of vitamins and nutrients essential for good health. One cup of this delicacy contains zero grams of fat, only 27 calories, and plenty of Vitamin C, iron, and potassium.

Digestive Health

As you eat sauerkraut, your stomach will actually thank you. In fact, one of the biggest health benefits of sauerkraut is digestive health, thanks to the probiotics it contains. Beneficial bacteria that can protect your digestive tract against harmful bacteria and toxins, probiotics in sauerkraut can help reduce gas and bloating.

Stronger Immune System

If you’re a person prone to getting colds or urinary tract infections, adding sauerkraut to your diet may result a much stronger immune system. Once again, you have its probiotics and nutrients to thank for this benefit. By consuming sauerkraut regularly, you can boost the production of natural antibodies, meaning you may get fewer colds or infections. Should you get sick, those extra antibodies have been shown to help people recover faster.

Helps with Weight Loss

If you’re looking to drop a few pounds, definitely plan on eating some sauerkraut now and then. Low in calories but high in fiber, this combo means you won’t have to eat much of it to feel full for a period of time. This can help you reduce your daily caloric intake, resulting in those extra pounds melting away.

Promotes Heart Health

Finally, eating sauerkraut can put you on a path to better heart health. Due to its winning combination of probiotics and fiber, this can make your cholesterol levels decrease, which is always a good thing in terms of cardiovascular health. It also contains levels of Vitamin K2, which is thought to help prevent the accumulation of calcium deposits in arteries.

After adding this great side dish to some of your meals on a regular basis, it’s almost certain you’ll notice these and other fantastic health benefits derived from sauerkraut.

About the Writer: Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and walks in the park with her husky, Snowball.